Ch. 12
The purpose of dikes and levees is to:
Prevent floods along rivers
The boundary between the saturated and unsaturated zones of an aquifer is called the:
water table
Match the following marine ecosystems with their best description.
(Kelp Forests) large brown algae grow from the floor of continental shelves and provide food and shelter for other species (Coral Reefs) these are areas of very high biodiversity due to the complex structures made from the skeletons of tiny marine animals. (Intertidal Zones) these ecosystems extend between the farthest reaches of high tide and low tide, so organisms are adapted to being submerged in water and being exposed to air (Salt Marshes) these occur where tides wash over gently sloping sandy or silty flats. They are thick with rushes, grasses, and shrubs. (Mangrove Forests) these tropical forests occur along sandy or silty coastlines and are dominated by trees that have stilt-like roots. (Estuaries) these are bodies of water where rivers flow into the ocean, mixing freshwater with salt water
Match each of the following descriptions of how water moves in oceans with the correct term:
(Ocean Currents) Vast riverlike flows that occur in the upper 400 m of ocean water. (El Nino) A phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean that happens every 2-8 years where warm waters back up against the coast of South America. (Thermohaline Circulation) A worldwide current system in which warmer fresher water moves along the surface and colder saltier water moves deep beneath the surface. (Downwellings) When warm surface waters rich in dissolved gases are pushed downward, providing an influx of oxygen for deep ocean life. (Upwellings) When cold, nutrient-rich water rises from the depths of oceans toward the surface. Promotes high productivity and fish populations.
Which of the following is true?
2.5% of the world's water is freshwater, but most of that is frozen
If we improved water conservation and efficiency, which of the following sectors would see the largest reductions in water use?
Agriculture
Bottled water is safer to drink than tap water.
False
Due to the fact that global catch (of fish) has remained steady over the past several decades, we can be reassured that the fish populations are healthy.
False
Organisms called zooplankton form the base of the food chain in oceans.
False
In which type of water is pollution both harder to detect and harder to clean up?
Ground water pollution
Which of the following statements correctly describe the negative impacts of dams? (select all that apply)
Habitat alteration both upstream and downstream, Disruption of natural flooding downstream that rebuilds topsoil, Sediment settles behind dams, filling reservoir instead of nourishing downstream floodplains, Decline in fish populations due to blocked migration passage
What happened to the Aral Sea?
It drastically shrunk due to its water being used unsustainably for irrigating cotton crops.
Select all of the statements about ocean acidification that are true:
It is caused by acid rain.
Desalination is one way to increase fresh water supplies, but its drawbacks include:
It is more expensive than using freshwater supplies, It generates a lot of salty waste, It requires a large amount of fossil fuels
What percentage of the world's fish populations can not be harvested any more intensively they they currently are without being depleted?
More than 50%
Which of the following forms of pollution is caused by soil erosion?
Sediment
The largest dam in the world is the:
Three Gorges Dam
Groundwater is more easily depleted than rivers and lakes due to the long period of time required to recharge (refill) aquifers.
True
The total amount of fish caught globally (total catch) increased over the past century, but has stalled over the past three decades.
True
Which of the following is a non-consumptive use of water?
Using water to generate hydroelectricity
Which of the following is NOT true about the Ogallala Aquifer?
Water is being overdrawn mostly for use in nearby cities and suburbs
Which of the following forms of pollution is caused by animal waste entering water sources?
Waterborne diseases
Which of the following best describes floodplains?
a region of low-lying land that is periodically flooded when an adjacent river naturally overflows
Which of the following sectors consumes the largest portion of water supplies globally?
agriculture
Marine reserves ________.
are "no-take" areas in the oceans where fishing is not allowed
Say you want to maintain a healthy pond in your neighborhood. Last year a nearby pond became filled with algae and then all the fish died. To avoid the same thing happening to your neighborhood pond, which action should you take?
avoid using fertilizers in area that drains into the pond
Water that has completed the treatment process at a wastewater treatment plant and released into a nearby river or ocean is called:
effluent
Which of the following is NOT true about the process of eutrophication?
fish die due to lack of light caused by algae
Water pollution in the United States has ________.
improved in the last 30 years
Which of the following is the name of the shallow zone along the edges of lakes or ponds usually filled with aquatic plants?
littoral
Run-off from a suburban neighborhood would be considered which of the following types of pollution?
non-point source
One of the biggest problems currently facing marine life in oceans is:
overharvesting fish populations
Which of the following best describes an aquifer?
porous formations of rock, sand, or gravel that hold water underground
Select all of the ecosystem services of wetlands from the list below.
reducing flooding, recharging aquifers
By-catch ________.
refers to the capture of marine animals not intended to be caught
Which step in the wastewater treatment process uses bacteria to degrade organic matter in a treatment facility?
secondary treatment
This freshwater ecosystem consists of shallow water in a forested area.
swamps
Which of the following forms of pollution is caused by pesticides entering waterways?
toxic chemicals
